Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Staff ReportsJanuary 4, 2017

Florida has asked the federal government for a five-year extension of a waiver that allows it to provide Medicaid services through a managed care program. Gov. Rick Scott filed the state’s application on Friday, seeking to extend the program through June 30, 2022. The program would remain essentially the same. “The demonstration objectives and the […]

Scott PowersDecember 20, 2016

A bipartisan Congressional task force heavily influenced by Florida’s U.S. Sens. Bill Nelson and Marco Rubio released its final report Tuesday on dealing with Puerto Rico’s economic collapse offering scores of recommendations for helping the U.S. territory, its economy and it’s people. Authorized last summer by the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability Act, […]

Michael MolineDecember 20, 2016

Senate President Joe Negron wants to start preparing for a day when Congress turns the Medicaid system into a block-grant program administered by the states. “What I’d like to see the Legislature do … is to start building the framework of what a block grant program would look like now that there is a reasonable chance […]

Associated PressDecember 19, 2016

One of President-elect Donald Trump‘s first, and defining, acts next year could come on Republican legislation to cut off taxpayer money from Planned Parenthood. Trump sent mixed signals during the campaign about the 100-year-old organization, which provides birth control, abortions and various women’s health services. He said “millions of women are helped by Planned Parenthood,” […]

Associated PressDecember 1, 2016

Only about one in four Americans wants President-elect Donald Trump to entirely repeal his predecessor’s health care law that extended coverage to millions, a new poll has found. The postelection survey released Thursday by the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation also found hints of a pragmatic shift among some Republican foes of “Obamacare.” While 52 percent […]

Florence SnyderNovember 30, 2016

It’s been ten years, almost to the day, since Congressman-elect Charlie Crist pulled $360 out of his pocket to pay for a year’s supply of thermal blankets for 12-year-old Kevin Estinfil, and pulled the plug on state lawyers who’d been fighting in the Third District Court of Appeal to deny the boy the basic supplies […]

Scott PowersOctober 19, 2016

U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio promised Wednesday he will push for increased doctor reimbursements for Medicaid and Medicare as part of a package to bring Puerto Rico’s federal benefits in line with states. Rubio, a Republican member of the bi-partisan, bi-cameral Congressional Task Force on Puerto Rico Economic Growth, met with an invited group of 20 Florida-resident […]

Jim RosicaOctober 19, 2016

A Medicaid managed-care case manager is suing her employer, a state of Florida contractor, for unpaid overtime — one of many similar suits filed around the country against the company’s corporate parent. Shanna Veit filed her proposed collective- and class-action suit in Leon County Circuit Civil court against Sunshine State Health Plan, seeking an unspecified amount of […]

Guest AuthorOctober 19, 2016

Three little letters — L-I-P — can spell panic in the hearts and minds of many hospital officials, as revenue estimators are forecasting a lean budget year for 2017. LIP or the Low Income Pool is a combination of state and federal funding that helps supplement Medicaid payments hospitals receive. The funding comes from local […]

Phil AmmannOctober 10, 2016

Beth Kidder is Florida’s new interim deputy secretary for Medicaid, overseeing the state’s nearly $26 billion state program that pays health costs for the poor. Christine Sexton of POLITICO Florida reports the announcement was made Oct. 6 in an email to Agency for Health Care Administration employees. In the current year budget, Sexton writes, the […]

Tag: Medicaid

State asks feds to extend Medicaid managed-care waiver

Congressional Puerto Rico task force releases final recommendations

Joe Negron envisions block grant system for Medicaid in Florida

Donald Trump action on health care could cost Planned Parenthood

Poll: Only about 1 in 4 wants Donald Trump to repeal health law

CNN reports, eloquently, on the nightmare that is Florida Medicaid

Marco Rubio promises to push for Medicare reimbursement increases for Puerto Rico

Case managers sue Sunshine Health for unpaid overtime

Jennifer Ungru: Funding for hospitals serving low-income patients presents challenges, opportunities

Personnel Note: Beth Kidder named interim deputy secretary for Medicaid